maroni replied:

alan we travelled up north 2 years ago going again this year, also when over east last year, travelling in camper van, i think just be careful and lock up things when you go away for the day, we have lockable compartments on camper so things got locked away when we went away from the camper for any length of time. i think when you travel you can get a pretty good idea of places. don't know if you are going over east , i was told not to stay in bourke, but to stay north of bourke at kidman camp caravan park, that was one of the nicesest parks i have seen and very safe.
hope this helps abit
cheers for now

Footloose replied:

Alan, stayed in Halls Creek twice (once after the riots) and never felt unsafe...uncomfortable but not unsafe. We also had our two small children with us.
You can be unsafe anywhere if you're unlucky. Strangely enough we did feel unsafe in Katherine, but that was the result of tensions there at the time. Today most travellers would probably think that it was a very safe place.
I honestly have to say that I've felt most unsafe in capital cities ! Seriously.
Remember that you're on someone elses turf, listen to your gut feeling and use commonsense and you'll be right.
Have a great trip.

V8Diesel replied:

Wiluna WA. I was there a bit in the early 90's. Might have changed since then, but I doubt it.

Been locked in the pub twice when there was trouble. Once a local copper got cut in the neck in a dispute, second time the 'traditional land owners' were all going mad outside and one fella donged another on the noggin with a rock and he died from what I was told. Not good in anyone's book. There is (was?) a locked compound out the side of the pub where you could park your Cruiser. The black bar was seperated from the whities and had two different grades of mesh bolted across the windows.

A deeply depressing, squalid and violent place.

In the mid to late 80's I saw two gins screaming obsenities and going each other with bottles at Fitzroy Crossing Pub (Crosssing Inn?) before it was evetually stopped. Nice bit of 'street theatre' for the tourists.

Roeburne wasn't too flash either, but I have never had any problems there myself.

Member - Peter R (QLD) replied:

When on the track just ask fellow travellers at camp sites or caravan parks.

The word soon gets out about places not to stay , and you can plan accordingly.

The same goes for "must stay" places .

Pedro

Bonz (Vic) replied:

Wilcannia scare the carp outta me, I would NEVER stay there in a month of Sundays.

Mr Fawlty replied:

Bourke & Willcania are two places to not stop at overnight, Shame there is some very interesting historic Buildings I would have loved to have seen but there was a fight going on at the servo with broken plonk bottles & at Bourke windows were smashed on the Jack & stuff stolen...
Pt Augusta is another place that has an unsavory reputation though at both the Van Parks the 12' tall fences with razor wire on top do provide some security...

Member - Duncs replied:

Alan,

I've travelled a bit. Was through Wildcannia on Monday all quiet but that was mid morning and there was plenty of time for things to warm up.

I would recommend that if you are there you check out the Highway first and if all is quiet have a drive around and see how beautiful it could be.

The only place I have felt threatened was Coen up on Cape York. On the way north it was pension day and the publican was doing a roaring trade. We felt quite uncomfortable, to add to the concern, just north of town as we headed out a truck load of drunks swerved towards us and through VB cans at our car.

The only place I have had gear pinched was at Port Lincoln. Apparently you are safer if you get a site away from the edges of the park.

Like others have said, you'll get a feel for places if it doesn't feel right move on. We have never felt unsafe bush camping. Get out of town and off the main road bit and you should have a quiet restful night.

Duncs

Member - vivien C (VIC) replied:

Going on a trip around Australia for six months with your family is a fabulous thing to do. Your kids will get so much out of this trip...mine are grown up now but still speak of all things that we did "way back then". They remember so much and learned so much about Australia too.

There have been very few places that we ever felt threatened. As others have said, ask other travellers and rely on your own instincts about what is safe. If you stay in caravan parks in towns where there has been trouble, camp away from the fences.

We camped a couple of times in Borroloola where it got pretty noisy as the hotel is not far from the campground. Apart from the noise and a few humourous comments that we heard and still get a laugh out of...we had no trouble.

The main thing is to get out on the road and enjoy it all. There is so much to see and to see it with your kids makes it even better.

Happy travelling.

geocacher (djcache) replied:

I'd be betting there've been more campers killed by gum trees in Australia in the last 10 years than any other cause mentioned above. I can recall at least 4 in our immediate area in the last few years and that's only the ones when I was on shift!

Dave